Permanent Mission of India, Geneva
WHO Executive Board - 138th Session
25-30 January 2016
Agenda item 2: Report by the Director General
Statement by Ambassador and Permanent Representative of India, H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar
Madam Chair,
Director General, and
Excellencies
We thank the Director General for her comprehensive report highlighting today's complex challenges to global health. The Ebola crisis posed an unprecedented challenge to WHO. We note that the DG and her team rose to the occasion in successfully combating the crisis and also initiating the systemic changes required to respond effectively to future emergencies.
2. The lessons learnt from Ebola are quite broad and striking. What is clear is that WHO should play its role as the international leader in health and Member States should do their part to enable and equip WHO with the necessary capacities to fulfill its mandate. With this sentiment in mind, India was one of the first countries to announce contribution to the new Contingency Fund for Emergencies. We believe that the driving force for reforms should be the need for building strong people-centred health systems including emergency response capacities that respond to the health needs of the concerned populations.
Madam Chair,
3. AMR is another growing challenge that needs our collective action. It is matter of satisfaction that the first Global Action Plan on AMR was endorsed during India's presidency of the World Health Assembly. In consonance with our high commitment in contributing to the regional and global efforts to tackle AMR, India will be hosting a major conference on AMR in New Delhi on 23 to 25 February 2016. The conference will inter alia focus on multi-sectoral action, infection control practices, promotion of rational use of drugs, prescription practices, research and innovation and multi-stakeholder participation. While AMR is a major health challenge for all countries, it is also a formidable development challenge for a vast majority of us. It is therefore vital that the WHO strategy focuses on multidimensional facets of AMR enabling addressing of AMR in a comprehensive manner.
4. In our view, health R&D agenda should receive greater attention. Ebola, AMR and challenges to access to new medicines, all of these only indicate that the need for a global R&D framework is even more urgent today than in 2012 when the CEWG report was published. A fragmented approach cannot be the answer. We hope the open-ended meeting on follow up to CEWG report will provide the much needed impetus to accelerate innovation and ensure equitable access to new health technologies for a broad range of diseases.
Madam Chair,
5. 2015 was a momentous year for change and global action, particularly for the health sector. We need to earnestly follow up on the ambitious agendas we have set for ourselves and act on our commitments to ensure that 2016 truly marks the beginning of global implementation. We fully endorse your emphasis on Universal Health Coverage. For the SDGs to have any meaningful impact, the needs and priorities of developing countries should be at the centre of our implementation efforts.
6. Indian delegation will continue to play a constructive role in addressing global health challenges and looks forward to a successful EB session.
I thank you Madam Chair.
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